The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-18

secrated ancestry. We are coming into
the morning of the second century of our
church with grand and heroic memories
of our past.
The day is at hand, o blessed day of
promise the day of peace, when strife
shall end and all men shall know and
love the Lord. But to many this day
seems far away. Creeds of doubt and
fear still shut ont the Fathers face. De-
spite the "New Orthodoxy" the "old or
thodoxy" is still in power in human
hearts and lives, and is at bottom the
subsistence of the most of that preaching
that calls itself evangelical"
Still rest the old dogmas in the creeds
of mans devisinQ, and on occasion they
find expression. Still are they taught in
Sunday school, and though driven under
cover, are by no means dead and ready
for burial. On the lowest ground of
fidelity, then, to the Universalist church,
the time is still far distant when we can
truthfully say it makes no difference
which church we attend-that one church
is as good as another; at least 80 long as
convictions and principles are worth con-
sidering. When this is said it means that
Universalism is preached in some ortho-
dox pulpit which is good enough for the
speaker. But what would be the condi-
ton of the world to. day if it lacked the
influence Of century of Universalism,
organized and positive? If, therefore.
there are any within the sound of my
voice tonight who are attending some
orthodox church, and yet who love lib
eral things and rejoice in the new day of
peace that has come to the earth, cloak
ing their desertion OF the light under the
pitiful plea that it makes no difference,
that one church is as good as another-I
entreat them to mark the history of the
Universalist church, note what it has
done for men, and then to ask themselves
how far their linking life and fortune
with some church alien and hostile to
these ideas can help along the coming of
the kingdom of God. 1t is matter Of
common observation in almost every
Western town, that if the Universalist
church had all that belonged to it it
would be the strongest church in town.
Why should it not have all? What
can any church resting on less and low
er truth have to offer sufficient to keep
people away from it? 1t is for our own
that plead. And to those to whom the
service of the Universalist church Is only
the occasion of more righteous and rev.
erent following of the Master-how in
spring the morning If it is not the full
sunrise, it is certainly it's bright fore
cleaning.
But with the re-telling Of the glorious
past and the inspiration of the promise of
the future we do not by any means grasp
all the significance of the occasion. Let
us answer the call of the Spirit, ''Lord.
here am L; what wilt thou have me to
do?" We can give ourselves to the faith;
let it reign in all our hearts and lives.
1t Is but shame to a man who PROCESSES
Universalism that his life is no better
than those around him who have no share
in his great hope. Our argument has
long since been pronounced unanswer-
able. When our lives appeal as power
fully to the heart as our words address
the reason we shall win the world. Only
let us increase our conservation. Let us
address ourselves more earnestly to the
spiritual culture and we shall grow with
out limit in the life everlasting. Let us
have new awakening, revival all along
the line. More zeal in the pews, more
fire in the pulpit, and the deed is done.
Shall we not be revived? For what is it
then that we are laboring? Is it that
every Sunday sleepy sermon may be
preached to dull and decorous congre-
cation, who shall continue to go in and
out of the same church doors until
the building is finally closed by reason of
death and removalp No. Let our pur-
pose sweep more widely, and our motto
be, "The World for Christ" and then the
very largeness Of our purpose will bring
blessing. Let us go onward in the
Lords name, and his grace will prove
more than sufficient for all our needs.